Replaced my fuel filter before the "Dragon". Because of the trouble I read about here on the forum with after market filters I bought the OEM from local Mercedes dealer: Part number 002-477-30-01 $62.00. Car had 48,000 miles and from what I read seems like a lot of trouble starts about 50,000 mi with this part. I replaced mine as preventative maintenance and have had no trouble. You need a long 10" extension and some plugs/caps for the fuel lines or gravity flow will allow fuel from the tank to ruin your entire day. Have a few rags available and a place to wash your arms as you will get gasoline on yourself.

Attached are some pictures that may help you do the job. Those are all the tools required to do the job. You have to remove a plastic cover located behind the rear axle on the passenger side to access the fuel filter. It has those crazy plastic studs which must be removed by pulling the center post out first, then the entire post will collapse on the inside and you can remove the cover. I replaced those plastic pins with after market product which has a screw in the center so it is much easier to remove in the future. I also was able to reuse the original clamps as I have a nifty little pliers that let me get them on/off with little problems, but I had the small stainless clamps available as a backup.

 

I got a call from the shop today. Looks like the check valve in the fuel filter they installed in March cracked and was drastically reducing fuel pressure even while running. They replaced it for free under warranty and I'm back in action. I wish I would've just taken it back to the shop in the first place but hey, live and learn, right?

 

Well maybe my recently replaced fuel filter was also my only problem too ...but I went ahead and replaced the filter again and at the same time replaced the fuel pump.....so I guess I will never know which one was really causing the problem.

One thing I know for sure is that if I have any recurring issues I can be sure Rudy and www.Speedriven.com in Palatine will take care of me now.

Glad your back up and running and you too can rest assured your fuel pump is now replaced anyway.

 

Question: I'm also experiencing the loss of power between 1500-2500rpm when i hit 80, my car jolts and will stall, triggering the CPS malfunction, but ive already replaced the sensor. Could this fuel filter be the problem?

 

that looks like vacuum leak...